***The VWL Groupies & Trivia Thread*** Chapter 2!

[Muushka]

Welcome Bella! Mind if I call you Bella (I loved that movie)?

I don't know if it was mentioned, but those VWL Groupie Moosie siggies are there for the taking.
And I'll bet he would look really good on you.

Eliza. Thank you for another fun college-finding expedition!
Love the new sig: BEER is living proof that God loves us & wants us to be happy ~Benjamin Franklin

HD, thanks for the idea to go driving through Celebration on our next trip. We learned about FW last Christmas when we went to the HDDR and saw the fun!

I was looking up TSO and they will be here Nov 22. Hopefully we will go.

 

[DisneyNutzy]

What a great morning this is. I put on my Sunday morning Chris Wallace, to listen to politics, and opened up this thread. So instead of politics (which I am totally SICK OF!!!) I got to go to VWL and WDW with DisneyNutzy and his family!

Great report, DN. What a pleasure to read. Sounds like a ball. And you Dad! What a hoot! That poor waitress at WC is going to have to report back to the powers that be that they are going to need a back up plan for wise-guy-New Yorkers .

Thank you for making my Sunday morning pleasant!!!

PS That Kitchen Sink looks delish!

Hi Muushka - Glad you enjoyed our adventures. Believe me words don't do Dad justice. He is a character.

DiznyNutzy[/COLOR][/B], I had a family babyshower for my niece yesterday, and we had so much fun talking about our family trip scheduled in two years.
Thanks for reinforcing that this is a "good idea" on my part.


Deb

50YT - The Grand Gathering (although not an official one) was GREAT! You will have a blast.

 

[Anal Annie]

A big hello groupies from the wonderful and gorgeous state of West Virginia!!
Continuing on with the drama of trying to get Rizzo the rat to decide on a college we are in West Virginia this weekend visiting WVU & Marshall Univ.

A few funny observations:

-I gotta tell you, West Virginians have got to be the most determined individuals in the country. This is a state plopped down in the middle of a mountain. It's like some pioneer was on his way to California and said "That's it, I'm not going another step" The amount of dynamite alone to blast into this mountain must have been mind boggling. We saw quite a bit of cattle on the drive but they were always laying down... They sort of look at you as if to say "Hey, you try grazing on the side of a mountain without falling off"

-Driving here is not for the faint of heart (and I learned to drive in midtown manhattan). The roads are carved in the mountains so on one side you have road, on the other side a 500 ft drop into wilderness. Whats funny is the speed limit is 70 mph, which actually means people do 75. This is definitely not the place to try out your driving & text messaging skills.

-They have these things called "Runaway truck ramps" (just in case your 10 ton tracker trailer happens to get away from you) now call me crazy but when driving down a road with a 8% incline, one really doesn't want to see signs saying "Runaway truck"

-They also have these wildlife crossing signs that have a picture of a bear and deer that say "please respect the widlife". if you look on the ground around or immediatley after each sign you will see car parts so I'm thinking the wildlife is winning this particular battle.

It is extremely gorgeous country and the people have been beyond nice. WVU is the bigger school but Marshall has had a major movie made about it so I think WVU have a bit of an inferiority complex.

Have a great Sunday groupies and sending moose dust to Ransom for a great trip.
Happy Dinks, thanks for the pictures. We need to see what these people do for Christmas.

Being born, bred & raised on a dairy farm in north central WV I can really appreciate some of your observations! (I "got out" in 1984 but all of my family is still there...all of 'em off exit #110 on I-79). They say you can see your own headlights on some of those curvy roads ya know. What you DON'T want to see is a truck actually USING one of those truck ramps! There's an exit just east of Morgantown on Rt. 68 (near Coopers Rock) that now bans 18 wheelers from using the exit. It's at the bottom of that mountain that's got the mandatory brake check at the top...it's a dead end ramp at the bottom and too many of them couldn't stop at the bottom of the ramp.

When I was first dating DH & took him home with me it was late on a Friday night...we were somewhere on a stretch of highway with few exits and of course no street lights...he begged me to pull over so he could "go". I mean, there was NOBODY out on the roads...so OK, fine. I pull over. He hops over the guardrail & goes a few feet into the brush. Next thing I know he's jumping back into the car screaming "GO! GO! JUST GO!!!!" I put it in gear & tear out & I'm like WHAT'S WRONG?? It was SO-O funny. His voice was shaking & he was like "I woke something up! And it's eyes were like WAIST HIGH"!! It was hysterical. He is sure to ask "how far to the next exit" now!

I went to college in Fairmont - about 20 min. south of Morgantown...we were the wannabees that couldn't afford WVU - but we used to go up there on the weekends to hang out. It's funny you mentioned going to Marshall this weekend...my MIL has an adopted son who just went there to visit this weekend too. It's definitely a lot further of a drive tho.

Hope you made it home safe & sound!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Good evening fellow groupies. Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Sure is cold here in Iowa. They are talking snow tomorrow. At least we haven't gotten a blizzard though like BIL did in South Dakota. Yikes!
Great trip report DisneyNutzy! Thank you! Sounds like alot of fun. Do you remember the name of waitress you had?
Welcome Bellaphia! Nice to have you join our group!
Eliza we have driven through WV going between Iowa and Pa. and it was pretty hair raising! The name of the city we have to drive through is eluding me and my computer won't google it for me. Aargh.

 

[eliza61]

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

To all our groupie Vet's,(and your familiies) big moose hugs & Kisses.
Love you madly.

 

[DaveH]

Good morning all.

 

[DiznyDi]

...And a very Good Morning to you, Dave and all of the Groupies!

They're calling for snow in Ohio today. I do enjoy the change of the seasons, but am just not quite ready for snow!

to our new Groupies. This is a great group of folks - you'll find yourself coming back to this thread again and again.

50YT: Have great fun planning your trip with your sisters. Family trips to the World are full of memories - make them (memories) while you can, you just never know what life has in store for you.

Muushka: Just love the new cat in your siggie! ...and I don't even like cats.

And to our veterans and their families, Thank You for your service! Eliza61: Thanks for the reminder that so many have given so much to keep us a free nation. Our son is currently serving in the Army stationed in Hawaii. He's due to deploy to Iraq January 5. I can't begin to fathom the loss of my son, let alone the loss of 5 sons.

Have a good week, everyone!
Di

 

[MiaSRN62]

hi all...
Sort of confused ? I posted yesterday but don't see it ?

So I'll repeat.....

Welcome back Happy Dinks and thanks for all those cool pics ! FW is really turning into a destination for the holidays !

Happy belated anniversary wishes Dizney Nutsy !

Glad u had a nice trip and enjoyed your photos as well.

Ransom...hope you're having an awesome first trip to VWL !

Good evening fellow groupies. Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Sure is cold here in Iowa. They are talking snow tomorrow. At least we haven't gotten a blizzard though like BIL did in South Dakota. Yikes!

Hi DLI...yeah, the Dakotas are getting slammed. Here in the burbs of Phila, we've already gotten snow. Came to suprise us (and imo, not in a good way !) a couple days before Halloween. I can't remember getting snow that early in quite some time. I measured about 2 inches---then it sleeted the following day (yuck again !).
Eliza...always enjoy your college "road trip" adventure stories. Keep us posted. Hope Rizzo can decide soon ! Thanks for posting the Vet Day sentiments....puts it all in perspective. I offer a big "thank you" to all of our vets and those in the armed services.

 

[Muushka]

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

To all our groupie Vet's,(and your familiies) big moose hugs & Kisses.
Love you madly.

(Eliza, that was so awesome, I quoted it so I could see it again!)

I second that thank you to our Vets.
DiznyDi, please thank your son for me. And my guess, all the Groupies. Please keep us in the loop on how your son is doing, we would appreciate that.

PS Eliza, I was poking around on the Founding Fathers website and by coincidence clicked on Ben's quotes. And there that beer one was, first one listed!

 

[Muushka]

Muushka: Just love the new cat in your siggie! ...and I don't even like cats.

Don't like cats!! Glad you like him!

 

[Dodie]

Good morning Groupies!

BRRRRR! I know that the 70-degree weather (in Indiana) in November was an anomoly and couldn't last forever, but a GRADUAL cool down would have been nice. We went from 72 to 28 in the span of a week! Crazy!

Thanks to all who've posted trip reports and pictures! That's what gets us all through to our next trip.

Welcome to any new Groupies too! I've been a bad Groupie lately and just haven't had time to catch up.

 

[eliza61]

(
PS Eliza, I was poking around on the Founding Fathers website and by coincidence clicked on Ben's quotes. And there that beer one was, first one listed!

Thanks Muush, Maria will tell you Ben is pretty big here in Philly.

The letter was written to a Mrs. Bixby of Boston (I think) by Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately for Ole Abe, Mrs Bixby was a confederate transplant and had no love what so ever for Mr. Lincoln or the Union She threw the telegraph in the trash and it was discovered by the editor of the local newspaper.

 

[Muushka]

Can you imagine throwing that telegraph away. I am glad it was rescued!

 

[Muushka]

Muush... ....cracks me up........

 

[tea pot]

Gooey Pumpkin Cake (from Paula Deen)

DH says he will never eat pumpkin pie again! He took one of these to work and it disappeared within minutes. If you follow Paula Deen, the ingredients can be switched around a lot to make different cake versions.

Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Variations: For a Pineapple Gooey Cake: Instead of the pumpkin, add a drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

For a Banana Gooey Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

For a Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

WOW ......This is great ......Thanks so Much
I think I'll try all of them

 

[Tarheel Tink]

WOW ......This is great ......Thanks so Much
I think I'll try all of them

This comes out more like cake bars when you bake it; don't expect it to be "tall". As you can see from all the butter and eggs it is a wee bit rich!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maria will tell you Ben is pretty big here in Philly.

Oh YES....eliza is right. Ben is KING and noone can tower above him !!! Oh wait a minute....that is William Penn ???

But Ben is big too. He can be spotted walking around Philly giving tours. He looks really good for his age. He also has an impressive statue in center city

Thanks Tarheel Tink for that recipe

 

[DisneyNutzy]

Great trip report DisneyNutzy! Thank you! Sounds like alot of fun. Do you remember the name of waitress you had?

DLI - I don't recall her name. I was too busy burying my head under the table with the rest of my group during my dad's antics.

Happy belated anniversary wishes Dizney Nutsy !

Glad u had a nice trip and enjoyed your photos as well.

Thanks for the anniversary wishes Maria.


Looks like my wife enjoyed the kid free time in the world. I am scheduled for a trip down in January for an event at the Wide World of Sports and the misses has scheduled some sitters so she can join me for a few days. Now for the tough choice. I have a great AP rate for the Beach Club. There is an even better rate available for WL. We are staying at the VWL the following month in February so I am leaning toward keeping the Beach Club. Any input from the groupies that have stayed at both places would be appreciated.

I picked loud proud NYer Dad and his GF up from the airport this morning from another trip they took. They informed me my suspicions were correct and GF is really hooked on the World. He wants the rental villa info as they are planning another trip. I told them we were thinking about VWL for Christmas 2010. They said they were in before the words were out of my mouth. So if any CM's are reading this - LOOKOUT - he is coming back!

 

[Muushka]

Any input from the groupies that have stayed at both places would be appreciated.

Well, I happen to love Beach Club too, if that means anything! We will be at VWL if you want to come visit (come to think of it we will be at BCV also!)

When are you going? It is great that you can do it kid-free.

 

[DisneyNutzy]

Well, I happen to love Beach Club too, if that means anything! We will be at VWL if you want to come visit (come to think of it we will be at BCV also!)

When are you going? It is great that you can do it kid-free.

Hey Muushka,

I will be there for a softball tournament from January 21 through the 25th. My better half will be there Jan 23 - 25. When will you be there?